The Shins - Wincing The Night Away
(2007)

Review by Sean Lynch

Just like no one would admit that Snow Patrol existed before Grey's Anatomy decided they did, indie-pop veterans The Shins lived in relative obscurity until everyone's favourite quirky doctor - Zach Braff - thrust them into the mainstream limelight with his flick Garden State.

The Shins are back with their third studio album, following up their acclaimed "Chutes To Narrow" LP, but obviously this time the stakes are higher - and there a few more people listening willing and ready to criticise your every move. So how do the boys from New Mexico fare this time around with network TV waiting with baited breath to see which song they can scalp and use during the death scene of Seth Cohen?

Well, the first thing you notice is that "Wincing The Night Away" is that it's a good deal broodier than their previous efforts. Not that The Shins are on par with The Wiggles in the perky-ness factor, but there was always a sense of positivity laced within their tunes. "Chutes To Narrow" was best described to me by a friend as 'Like a sunny day', while "Wincing" tends to give off the impression of an impending storm in the distance. That if you close your eyes, you can almost make out the rain clouds gathering over the hill.

An article in Rolling Stone recently mentioned that lead singer James Mercer took the album title "Wincing The Night Away" as a reference to his 'crippling insomnia' - so you can't blame the guy for being a little grumpy. Moodiness aside, there are some really sweet and melodic tunes on here. Red Rabbit, Black Wave and Spilt Needles all possess that Radiohead element - a comforting dreamlike relaxant which works perfectly for those "The world hates me" days. While Australia sheds some sunlight on proceedings, with one of the most fun loving and catchy tunes on the album.

There are definitely hints that The Shins are heading in a more experimental direction, with a range of new musical elements on offer such as hip-hop loops to psychedelic Hawaiian folk (in Girl Sailor). There's a dabble with synthesizer sounds, most notably being Spilt Needles. Those who snatched up a copy of the pre-album EP "Phantom Limbs" will most likely have sensed this albums tone coming (and perfectly bridges the tonal gaps of the two albums).

"Wincing" is a really sweet album. There are some amazingly sincere tunes on here, but like most albums of it's genre, works best when you're at your worst - which is a shame - as it's one of the better releases of the new year.

RATING: 3.5 out of 5